Chris Scafe, owner of Sunflower Curbside Recycling, hoists two large bags of aluminum cans to be recycled onto the scale at 12th and Haskell Recycling in east Lawrence on Wednesday. Wednesday 20 May 2009

Curbside recycling efforts in Lawrence may soon get a city-sponsored boost, but not a new city-run service.

City commissioners on Tuesday will review a plan that would allow the city to begin doing special marketing to draw attention to approximately a half-dozen privately operated curbside recycling services available in Lawrence.

The recommendation — made by the city’s Sustainability Advisory Board late last year — has won the support of city staff, who at one point had suggested the city create a pilot curbside recycling program that would be operated by city trash crews.

At least one city commissioner said he’s leaning toward giving the new marketing approach a try.

“There’s no sense in competing with private businesses, if we don’t have to,” said Commissioner Mike Dever, who has urged the city to look for curbside recycling options. “I think this might add some credibility to the existing firms that will cause more people to use them.”

The proposal involves three major parts:

• The city would design and fund an advertising campaign aimed at educating people about curbside recycling options that already exist in Lawrence.

• The city would purchase uniform recycling containers for the customers of the private companies to use and set out at their curbs. The hope is that the uniform containers would draw the attention of passers-by and create more awareness about curbside recycling options in Lawrence.

• All private curbside recycling companies would be required to register with the city, and provide officials with data on how much material they recycle and where they take it.

The proposal does not have any firm estimates on how much it would cost the city to do the marketing and buy containers, but Dever said that information will be important to know before moving forward.

Jeff Joseph, who has owned Jeff’s Curbside Recycling for nine years, said he’s pleased with the city’s proposed approach, especially if the registration process doesn’t involve a fee or large amounts of paperwork.

“I think it is great that they are trying to support something that is already in place,” Joseph said.

Based on information on various company Web sites, private Lawrence recyclers charge between $7 per month for once-per-month service to about $15 to $20 per month for weekly service.

Commissioners meet at 6:35 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall.